Giving and receiving: Volunteers, hungry residents both take something away from food bank

STOCKTON - One of life's paradoxes was on full display Tuesday morning in an uncompromising neighborhood south of the Crosstown Freeway.

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By Kevin Parrish

recordnet.com

By Kevin Parrish

Posted Nov. 27, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Kevin Parrish
Posted Nov. 27, 2013 at 12:01 AM

How you can help

Those who operate food banks and soup kitchens know that there's always a great outpouring of generosity in November and December. This week, their helping hands go out for Thanksgiving. Next month...

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How you can help

Those who operate food banks and soup kitchens know that there's always a great outpouring of generosity in November and December. This week, their helping hands go out for Thanksgiving. Next month, it's Christmas. How you can help:

• Second Harvest, Manteca: (209) 239-2091

• Salvation Army, Stockton: (209) 948-8955

• Interfaith Ministries, Tracy: (209) 836-5424

• Emergency Food Bank, Stockton: (209) 464-7369

• Gospel Center Rescue Mission, Stockton: (209) 320-2311

• St. Mary's Dining Room, Stockton: (209) 467-0703

» Social News

STOCKTON - One of life's paradoxes was on full display Tuesday morning in an uncompromising neighborhood south of the Crosstown Freeway.

Hundreds of volunteers left the warmth and comfort of their homes to serve the least fortunate of Stockton's residents.

They were there in the dawn chill to distribute food in the Emergency Food Bank's Thanksgiving box giveaway. Thousands lined Scotts Avenue to pick up the holiday assistance - and the army of volunteers learned once again the old lesson that the more you give, the more you receive.

The life tutorial was layered for 11-year-old Savannah Cook of Tracy.

"Honest to God, I need to appreciate how much I have in life," she said. "I'm here because I got into trouble for stealing from my parents. This is my punishment."

Savannah, also known as "Slim," was volunteering alongside her cousin, Anthony Mori, 12. They were "runners" who helped carry Thanksgiving meals to the beneficiaries' cars.

Neither was complaining about the assignment.

"I feel good inside," said Anthony, a seventh-grader at Lammersville School. "I am thankful for the life that I have."

Savannah, a sixth-grader at Monte Vista Middle School, said the community service was gratifying. "I feel happy helping all these people," she said. "All these people."

It was her first time on Scotts Avenue, but Savannah had already recognized the scope of things in south Stockton.

The first giveaway recipients started lining up at 10 a.m. Monday, a full day ahead of time. By the time things got rolling Tuesday, the line stretched 31/2 blocks east to the Amtrak Station on San Joaquin Street and, for much of the morning, it doubled back toward the food bank. At one point, organizers estimated 2,000 people in line.

"It is a joy to see all these people and know that we're helping them have a good holiday," said Gladis Cruz, a 19-year-old student at the Stockton campus of Carrington College, which offers training in health care careers.

She was handing out children's books as parents left with their food. It was her first time helping out.

"I'm getting a lot of thanks, and that's enough for me."

Robert Endow, 27, was another first-time volunteer. He is engaged to Johanna Bakmas, the niece of Rebecca Knodt, the Emergency Food Bank's director.

Endow was moving boxes into place for distribution.

"This is really something that is good for Stockton," he said. "There are a lot of people in unfortunate circumstances - it's nice to be able to help."

A few feet away, Pete Mata, the agency's 56-year-old food-development director, was acting as the day's self-appointed cheerleader. Literally. He was helping lead groups of volunteers in loud, enthusiastic cheers.

"This is the greatest job in the world - to help people," he said. "What a blessing to be a blessing."

Mata, who lives in French Camp, also is pastor of Lathrop's Community Apostolic Church. "This is about reaping and sowing and a life of servitude. The people here exemplify that."

Knodt said the food bank gave away all of its turkeys and substituted hams for some of the 2,600 Thanksgiving boxes distributed - the food bank "cupboard is bare," she said.

Knodt also was effusive in her praise.

"The way this community is is amazing," she said. "Everybody wants to help and give to others. The volunteers are incredible. We couldn't do this without them."

Camilla Rodriguez and Brianna Ramirez, both 15 and sophomores at Cesar Chavez High School, worked side by side in the cold, meeting the downtrodden and helping those in need.

"This is my community. It's right here," Camilla said. "Just their smiles and the words 'thank you' make you feel warm."

Brianna admitted she didn't realize so many people needed help. "It feels special to be here," she said. "It feels great. When I go home, I can hold my head up."

Unselfishness was the order of the day.

At the Salvation Army at Airport Way and Weber Avenue, volunteers were putting the finishing touches on a new approach this year: giving away 250 Thanksgiving meal boxes.

Lisa Nguyen, 17, and her friends were serving hot coffee from a Salvation Army van.

"I want to spend my time doing positive things for others," said Lisa, a Bear Creek High student and a member of the Key Club. "Something so simple as this can make someone else's day."

Inside the Salvation Army gym, new friends Salvador Andrade and Romuel Trocino, also Bear Creek students, were taking a break after helping assemble the gift boxes.

"I was taught to be kind to others and to help others," said Romuel, a 17-year-old senior. "Doing stuff like this is kind of normal."

Added Salvador, 16, a junior: "It's a good feeling afterward knowing you helped out someone who can't afford a good Thanksgiving."

Early Tuesday morning, more than an hour before the Tropicana Restaurant opened, cook Corey Peoples stood in the kitchen with his longtime friend, Angel Vasquez. The two men were preparing a free Thanksgiving meal for the lunchtime crowd.

On the front of the restaurant catty-corner from the Stockton Police Department, there was a simple, hand-written sign: